Social Work and Social Welfare: An Introduction

Underscoring the belief that approaches to social welfare have changed over the decades, while the needs to which the social work profession respond remain much the same, the authors offer a text that helps students develop a frame of reference to understand social welfare and an approach to address social issues which will serve them well in times of committment and retrenchment.

Joseph Heffernan taught policy and research courses at the University of Texas at Austin before retiring. He has significant macro-level experience with policy analysis, with particular emphasis on poverty and economic issues relating to social welfare.

Guy Shuttlesworth, a noted gerontology authority, is a professor emeritus from the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught policy and practice courses as well as developed a gerontology program. His research interests include long-term care and rural America.

Rosalie Ambrosino is professor and interim chair of the Department of Social Work at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she teaches policy and cultural competence. She previously taught research, human behavior, and practice courses in child welfare. She also served on the faculty and as head of the BSW Program at the University of Texas at Austin for 18 years. Dr. Ambrosino has extensive social work experience in settlement houses/community centers, child welfare, school social work, and administration. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin, her master's degree at Antioch University, and her bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota.